On the go and no time to finish that story right now? Your News is the place for you to save content to read later from any device. Register with us and content you save will appear here so you can access them to read later.

A $1 million multi-purpose training facility is under way at the Mines Rescue station, although the number of underground miners on the West Coast has plummeted with the closure of the Pike River and Spring Creek mines.

Mines Rescue West Coast general manager Trevor Watts said today that although there were now only 56 underground miners left on the Coast, the development was still needed.

While the coal industry was going through hard times currently he was sure it would bounce back.

"We have complete faith in the mining industry. While miners have lost their jobs, a large number of them remain in other employment on the Coast and remain members of Mines Rescue," Mr Watts said.

Mr Watts said Mines Rescue was not changing or expanding its core business by inviting other organisations to use the facility.

"There are still a lot of working mines on the Coast, and as well as our core work for the mining industry we also provide external training for other industries including drilling, dairying, construction, engineering and civil works. The industry is keen to be able to use the facility and it puts us in a strong position to meet their demands when mining does bounce back."